New Study Highlights Heart Health Risks of Extreme Temperatures

Are you regularly exposed to extreme temperatures? It may increase your risk of heart disease. A new study found a correlation between heart disease deaths and extreme temperatures. Whether you are exposed to extreme heat or extreme cold, it could be taking a toll on your heart health.

About the Study

Published in the American Heart Association (AHA's) medical journal, Circulation, the study found that roughly 1 percent of all heart disease deaths are attributed to extreme temperatures.

For the study, researchers analyzed health data involving 32 million heart disease deaths. The deaths occurred over a 40-year period, beginning in 1979 and ending in 2019. Researchers determined that about one out of every 100 heart disease deaths were attributed to extreme temperatures. When exposed to extreme heat or extreme cold, people were more likely to die from heart disease.

Heart Disease

Heart disease, of course, is already the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 600,000 people in the United States die from heart disease in any given year.

Also known as cardiovascular disease, heart disease is a group of medical conditions that affect the heart and/or the blood vessels that supply it with blood. Millions of people suffer from heart disease. The study published in the AHA's medical journal, Circulation, suggests that people who have heart disease are more likely to die from this condition if they are exposed to extreme temperatures.

How Extreme Temperatures Affect the Heart

How does extreme heat and extreme cold affect the heart exactly? Extreme temperatures will typically force the heart muscle to work harder. It will pump faster in an effort to regulate the person's body temperature. This extra strain can increase the risk of heart disease-related death.

Extreme heat, of course, adds another risk factor: dehydration. Our bodies are designed to release heat by sweating. If you're working outdoors on a hot summer day, you may sweat. Sweating will allow heat to escape your body so that you can cool down. But sweating comes at the cost of dehydration. Your body will lose both heat and moisture as you sweat. And if you allow yourself to become severely dehydrated, it will place an additional strain on your heart.

For a healthier heart, you should try to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. You won't always have the luxury of staying indoors where the climate is controlled. But you should still be conscious of how long you spend outdoors on excessively cold or hot days.